Rooftop policy was cleared sans discussion: Ravi Raja

The Bombay High Court on Monday sought more clarity from the BMC on the civic body's policy for rooftop restaurants in the city that seems to contain a number of ambiguities.

Ravi Raja, Congress corporator and Leader of Opposition in BMC said that the rooftop policy was not BMC's policy as there was no discussion held when it was tabled before the general body meeting on January 18. He said, "The policy was cleared without taking stakeholders in confidence and even the general body cleared it without having any discussion." He added that it contains a number of ambiguities like who will monitor these restaurants and how the civic body will check violations.

Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray is believed to be the brainchild behind rooftop restaurants in the city. However BJP had opposed rooftop restaurants while supporting night markets.

Yashwant Jadhav, Shiv Sena corporator and Leader of House in BMC said that the civic chief had already issued a deemed policy that did not require discussion in the House. "The policy was tabled around three months after a draft policy was issued by municipal commissioner and it was not cleared in a hurry," said Jadhav.